Blood Transfusions: Should I Bank Blood Before Surgery

Guides through decision to bank blood before having surgery. Explains how banking blood before surgery can protect from a bad reaction to a blood transfusion. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Blood Transfusions: Should I Bank Blood Before Surgery?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Your options

Key points to remember

Getting a disease from a blood transfusion is very rare in the
United States. The risk of infection from a blood transfusion is higher in less
developed countries.

If you have had many
blood transfusions, your body may have formed
antibodies against donated blood. Your body mistakes
the new blood as harmful and tries to destroy it. Careful testing helps reduce
the risk for these problems.

There are risks from getting a blood transfusion, some related to errors with the labeling of the blood. The risk of these errors is the same whether
you bank your own blood or receive donated blood.

Your body may not
have time to replace the blood you banked before the surgery. This means that
you may not be able to stand losing much more blood during surgery before you'd
need a transfusion. In some cases, it's possible that you wouldn't have needed
a transfusion at all if you had not banked blood before your surgery.

If you are
going to have surgery and expect to need a
blood transfusion, you may want to bank your own blood
a few weeks before the surgery. If you do need a transfusion, doctors can use
your own blood.

Many people consider this choice to protect
themselves from the risks of disease or mismatched blood that are linked to
blood transfusion.

Transfusion reactions occur when the blood you are given does not match
your
blood type. This matching error is rare. The lab may mislabel a unit of blood. A
doctor, nurse, or technician may misread the label before the blood is given to
you.

Getting the wrong blood type happens in about 1 out of 14,000 transfusions.1 A transfusion reaction may
be mild or severe. A severe reaction can be life-threatening, but this is very rare.2

It's possible to have a mild transfusion reaction even if your blood and
the blood you are given are matched correctly.

Some people,
especially those who have had many blood transfusions, make
antibodies against the blood they receive. Their
immune system mistakes the new blood as harmful and
tries to destroy it. Careful testing helps lower the risk for these
problems.

The risk for an error in
reading or labeling is the same whether you bank your own blood before surgery
or receive a transfusion of donor blood. An error in reading or labeling may
also mean that you receive the correct blood type during your surgery but not
the blood you banked.

Getting a viral infection, such as
hepatitis or
HIV, from a blood transfusion is very rare in the
United States. Guidelines enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) guard the collection, testing, storage, and use of blood. The risk of
disease from a blood transfusion is higher in less developed countries.

It's possible for blood to become contaminated with bacteria during or
after donation. Getting a transfusion with blood that contains bacteria can
lead to a bacterial infection that affects your whole body. You face the same
risk for bacterial infection whether you bank your own blood before surgery or
receive a blood transfusion of donor blood.

Because blood
can't be stored very long, you must bank your blood a few weeks before your
surgery. This may not allow enough time for your body to make enough new blood
to replace what you banked before surgery. You may have less blood than normal
at the time of surgery, so your body may not be able to lose much more blood
before needing a transfusion. In some cases, it's possible that you would not
have needed a transfusion at all if you hadn't banked blood before
surgery.

You may not be able to bank enough blood for your surgery.
Most people are able to safely bank 2 to 4 units of blood before surgery. If
you are having major surgery that may require more blood than this, you may
need more than you can safely bank.

Talk with your surgeon about
how much blood you might need for your surgery.

Compare your options

Compare

What is usually involved?

What are the benefits?

What are the risks and side effects?

Banking blood
Banking blood

You donate blood a few weeks
before your surgery. If you need a transfusion during surgery, you can receive
the blood you donated.

If you have had many transfusions
and your body has formed antibodies against donated blood, you are less likely
to have a reaction if a transfusion comes from your own blood.

You may avoid a viral infection from a blood transfusion. Viral
infections from blood transfusions are very rare.

Your body may not
have enough time to replace the blood you banked before surgery.

If there is a labeling or reading error, you may not receive the
blood you banked.

Not banking blood
Not banking blood

If you need a transfusion,
you will receive donor blood from the blood bank.

Your body will have plenty of
blood available at the time of surgery. You may not need a transfusion at
all.

If you have had
many transfusions and your body has formed antibodies, you are more likely to
have a reaction from donated blood.

There is a slight chance that you could get a viral infection
from the blood you receive. Viral infections from blood transfusions are very
rare.

Personal stories

Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide.

Personal stories about banking blood before surgery

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

I am very
concerned about the risk of getting HIV from a blood transfusion. I know the
risk is very small, but even that small risk is too great for my comfort. I am
banking my own blood before my surgery to reduce this risk even more.

Frank, age
50

After talking with my doctor, I feel much
better about the safety of blood transfusions. She pointed out that the main
risk is from having a reaction to the blood, and the risk is about the same
whether I bank my own blood or not. I'm not going to bank my blood before my
surgery.

Margaret, age
47

I had surgery a few years ago and had to
have a blood transfusion. I had a pretty bad reaction to the transfusion, and
my doctor tells me this is likely to happen again. It has something to do with
an uncommon antibody in my blood that makes it react with most other blood. Now
I have to have surgery again, and my doctor says I can reduce the risk of
having another transfusion reaction by banking my own blood ahead of time. But
they also said that they will keep looking for blood that my antibodies won't
react with. For now, banking and using my own blood seems safest to me.

I was considering banking my blood before
my surgery. I asked my doctor how much blood I was likely to need during the
surgery, and he said not very much. In fact, it is possible I will not need a
transfusion at all. But he also said that if I chose to bank my blood before
the surgery, I might become anemic and need a transfusion I could have avoided
if I hadn't banked my blood in the first place. I've decided not to bank my
blood before my surgery.

Francisco, age 30

What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to bank blood before surgery

Reasons not to bank blood before surgery

I'm worried about getting a viral infection from a blood transfusion, even though the risk is low.

I'm not worried about getting a viral infection from a blood transfusion.

More important

Equally important

More important

I have religious or cultural reasons not to receive blood from other people.

I have no objection to receiving blood from other people.

More important

Equally important

More important

I'm concerned about having a transfusion reaction from donated blood.

I'm not concerned about having a transfusion reaction.

More important

Equally important

More important

I understand that even if I bank blood, I may not receive it during surgery.

It's not worth it to me to bank blood if there's a chance I'd still get the wrong blood during surgery.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Banking blood

NOT banking blood

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.

Are you less likely to have a bad reaction to a transfusion if you use banked blood?

YesSorry, that's not right. Since most transfusion reactions occur because of errors on blood labels or from errors in reading the labels, the risk is the same whether you bank your own blood or receive donated blood.

NoThat's right. Since most transfusion reactions occur because of errors on blood labels or from errors in reading the labels, the risk is the same whether you bank your own blood or receive donated blood.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "How likely are you to have a reaction to a blood transfusion?" Most reactions occur because of errors. The risk of errors is the same whether you bank your own blood or receive donated blood.

2.

Is it common to get a disease from a blood transfusion in the United States?

YesSorry, that's not right. Getting a disease from a blood transfusion in the United States is very rare.

NoYou're right. Getting a disease from a blood transfusion in the United States is very rare.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "How likely are you to get a disease from a blood transfusion?" Getting a disease from a blood transfusion in the United States is very rare.

3.

Could banking blood make you more likely to need a transfusion during surgery?

YesThat's right. Your body may not have time to replace the blood you banked before the surgery. In some cases, it's possible that you wouldn't have needed a transfusion at all if you had not banked blood.

NoSorry, that's not right. Your body may not have time to replace the blood you banked before the surgery. In some cases, it's possible that you wouldn't have needed a transfusion at all if you had not banked blood.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "What are the risks of banking blood?" Your body may not have time to replace the blood you banked before the surgery, which can make you more likely to need a transfusion during surgery.

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Blood Transfusions: Should I Bank Blood Before Surgery?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Get the facts

Compare your options

What matters most to you?

Where are you leaning now?

What else do you need to make your decision?

1. Get the Facts

Your options

Bank your own blood before surgery.

Do not bank your own blood before surgery.

Key points to remember

Getting a disease from a blood transfusion is very rare in the
United States. The risk of infection from a blood transfusion is higher in less
developed countries.

If you have had many
blood transfusions, your body may have formed
antibodies against donated blood. Your body mistakes
the new blood as harmful and tries to destroy it. Careful testing helps reduce
the risk for these problems.

There are risks from getting a blood transfusion, some related to errors with the labeling of the blood. The risk of these errors is the same whether
you bank your own blood or receive donated blood.

Your body may not
have time to replace the blood you banked before the surgery. This means that
you may not be able to stand losing much more blood during surgery before you'd
need a transfusion. In some cases, it's possible that you wouldn't have needed
a transfusion at all if you had not banked blood before your surgery.

FAQs

Why might you bank your own blood?

If you are
going to have surgery and expect to need a
blood transfusion, you may want to bank your own blood
a few weeks before the surgery. If you do need a transfusion, doctors can use
your own blood.

Many people consider this choice to protect
themselves from the risks of disease or mismatched blood that are linked to
blood transfusion.

How likely are you to have a reaction to a blood transfusion?

One risk of getting a blood transfusion is
a transfusion reaction.

Transfusion reactions occur when the blood you are given does not match
your
blood type. This matching error is rare. The lab may mislabel a unit of blood. A
doctor, nurse, or technician may misread the label before the blood is given to
you.

Getting the wrong blood type happens in about 1 out of 14,000 transfusions.1 A transfusion reaction may
be mild or severe. A severe reaction can be life-threatening, but this is very rare.2

It's possible to have a mild transfusion reaction even if your blood and
the blood you are given are matched correctly.

Some people,
especially those who have had many blood transfusions, make
antibodies against the blood they receive. Their
immune system mistakes the new blood as harmful and
tries to destroy it. Careful testing helps lower the risk for these
problems.

The risk for an error in
reading or labeling is the same whether you bank your own blood before surgery
or receive a transfusion of donor blood. An error in reading or labeling may
also mean that you receive the correct blood type during your surgery but not
the blood you banked.

How likely are you to get a disease from a blood transfusion?

Getting a viral infection, such as
hepatitis or
HIV, from a blood transfusion is very rare in the
United States. Guidelines enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) guard the collection, testing, storage, and use of blood. The risk of
disease from a blood transfusion is higher in less developed countries.

It's possible for blood to become contaminated with bacteria during or
after donation. Getting a transfusion with blood that contains bacteria can
lead to a bacterial infection that affects your whole body. You face the same
risk for bacterial infection whether you bank your own blood before surgery or
receive a blood transfusion of donor blood.

What are the risks of banking blood?

Because blood
can't be stored very long, you must bank your blood a few weeks before your
surgery. This may not allow enough time for your body to make enough new blood
to replace what you banked before surgery. You may have less blood than normal
at the time of surgery, so your body may not be able to lose much more blood
before needing a transfusion. In some cases, it's possible that you would not
have needed a transfusion at all if you hadn't banked blood before
surgery.

You may not be able to bank enough blood for your surgery.
Most people are able to safely bank 2 to 4 units of blood before surgery. If
you are having major surgery that may require more blood than this, you may
need more than you can safely bank.

Talk with your surgeon about
how much blood you might need for your surgery.

2. Compare your options

Banking blood

Not banking blood

What is usually involved?

You donate blood a few weeks
before your surgery. If you need a transfusion during surgery, you can receive
the blood you donated.

If you need a transfusion,
you will receive donor blood from the blood bank.

What are the benefits?

If you have had many transfusions
and your body has formed antibodies against donated blood, you are less likely
to have a reaction if a transfusion comes from your own blood.

You may avoid a viral infection from a blood transfusion. Viral
infections from blood transfusions are very rare.

Your body will have plenty of
blood available at the time of surgery. You may not need a transfusion at
all.

What are the risks and side effects?

Your body may not
have enough time to replace the blood you banked before surgery.

If there is a labeling or reading error, you may not receive the
blood you banked.

If you have had
many transfusions and your body has formed antibodies, you are more likely to
have a reaction from donated blood.

There is a slight chance that you could get a viral infection
from the blood you receive. Viral infections from blood transfusions are very
rare.

Personal stories

Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These
personal stories
may help you decide.

Personal stories about banking blood before surgery

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

"I am very concerned about the risk of getting HIV from a blood transfusion. I know the risk is very small, but even that small risk is too great for my comfort. I am banking my own blood before my surgery to reduce this risk even more."

— Frank, age
50

"After talking with my doctor, I feel much better about the safety of blood transfusions. She pointed out that the main risk is from having a reaction to the blood, and the risk is about the same whether I bank my own blood or not. I'm not going to bank my blood before my surgery."

— Margaret, age
47

"I had surgery a few years ago and had to have a blood transfusion. I had a pretty bad reaction to the transfusion, and my doctor tells me this is likely to happen again. It has something to do with an uncommon antibody in my blood that makes it react with most other blood. Now I have to have surgery again, and my doctor says I can reduce the risk of having another transfusion reaction by banking my own blood ahead of time. But they also said that they will keep looking for blood that my antibodies won't react with. For now, banking and using my own blood seems safest to me."

— Ginger, age
60

"I was considering banking my blood before my surgery. I asked my doctor how much blood I was likely to need during the surgery, and he said not very much. In fact, it is possible I will not need a transfusion at all. But he also said that if I chose to bank my blood before the surgery, I might become anemic and need a transfusion I could have avoided if I hadn't banked my blood in the first place. I've decided not to bank my blood before my surgery."

— Francisco, age 30

3. What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to bank blood before surgery

Reasons not to bank blood before surgery

I'm worried about getting a viral infection from a blood transfusion, even though the risk is low.

I'm not worried about getting a viral infection from a blood transfusion.

More important

Equally important

More important

I have religious or cultural reasons not to receive blood from other people.

I have no objection to receiving blood from other people.

More important

Equally important

More important

I'm concerned about having a transfusion reaction from donated blood.

I'm not concerned about having a transfusion reaction.

More important

Equally important

More important

I understand that even if I bank blood, I may not receive it during surgery.

It's not worth it to me to bank blood if there's a chance I'd still get the wrong blood during surgery.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

4. Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Banking blood

NOT banking blood

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

5. What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.
Are you less likely to have a bad reaction to a transfusion if you use banked blood?

Yes

No

I'm not sure

That's right. Since most transfusion reactions occur because of errors on blood labels or from errors in reading the labels, the risk is the same whether you bank your own blood or receive donated blood.

2.
Is it common to get a disease from a blood transfusion in the United States?

Yes

No

I'm not sure

You're right. Getting a disease from a blood transfusion in the United States is very rare.

3.
Could banking blood make you more likely to need a transfusion during surgery?

Yes

No

I'm not sure

That's right. Your body may not have time to replace the blood you banked before the surgery. In some cases, it's possible that you wouldn't have needed a transfusion at all if you had not banked blood.

Decide what's next

1.
Do you understand the options available to you?

Yes

No

2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?

Yes

No

3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?

Yes

No

Certainty

1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision?

Not sure at all

Somewhat sure

Very sure

2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision.

I'm ready to take action.

I want to discuss the options with others.

I want to learn more about my options.

3.
Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.

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